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Do you need a Spanish Bank Account?

Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2020 11:04pm
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Location: Cabo Roig

Joined: 20 Feb 2017

Hola,

I imagine this has been discussed before but...

I am property owner but non resident.... visit ~4 to 5 times a year.

We have a Spanish Bank Account and the water, electricity, Suma, Urbanisation, and house insurance are paid by Direct Debit. The Bank charges are very high (extortionate) - abourt 35 euros a quarter! We bank with Banco Sabadell. 

I could pay these bills from my Revolut card but it that a good thing to do? It is worth keeping a Spanish bank account? And if so how is there any way of reducing the bank charges?

Thanks in advance.

  

Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2020 5:30am

jimtaylor

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Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2020 5:30am

You're quite correct that it's been discussed before - frequently and recently. Start by reading recent threads on the topic.

Sabadell won't reduce their fees, but you could move to another bank like Cajamar.

If you read other posts you'll also find that you don't need a Spanish bank account.

Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2020 6:58am

Kenbo

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Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2020 6:58am

As Jim states, covered extensively.

I moved all my direct debits to Transferwise, no reason why you couldn't move yours to Revolut.

Question for Jim.

Having done the above, previously the bank handled the non resident certificate, what is the process as the online banks will not do this.

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Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2020 7:03am

Jimmy Mack

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Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2020 7:03am

EJJ15, We are the similar as you in respect of all your payments and we also bank with a Sabadell (35euro quarter charge)
My thoughts are, if you do not have a Spanish bank account how do you pay your stated bills ‘euros’ (monthly debits) We used to send money over every month from Scotland through our bank (to pay the bills) and the exchange rate fluctuated every month so then you were at the Scottish bank’s mercy. Couldn’t be bothered now trying to change ‘set up direct debits’ in Spain and I’ll continue to pay my 35euros quarterly, everyone has their own thoughts on this matter which I respect.

Regards

 Jim

Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2020 7:42am

wrypop

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Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2020 7:42am

I opened a Cajamar account six years ago. At the same time I paid a €1000 ' bond '. Since then I have never had to pay bank charges. The 1000 is still mine and even has a miniscule amount of yearly interest added. 

Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2020 8:43am

GCfromVC

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Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2020 8:43am

wrypop wrote on Mon Jul 13, 2020 7:42am:

I opened a Cajamar account six years ago. At the same time I paid a €1000 ' bond '. Since then I have never had to pay bank charges. The 1000 is still mine and even has a miniscule amount of yearly interest added. 

That sounds interesting? Was that just an option offered by your bank. Out of curiosity does the bond sit in another account strictly for that purpose with restricted access or does it just sit in a savings account?

Thanks

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